Gyros are fun to fly - but like all aircraft they need to be treated with respect and proper training is required to fly them safely and realise their full potential.
Our training base at Wickenby Airfield near Lincoln offers two tarmac runways, a clubhouse with bar and cafe, and a thriving aviation community which welcomes new members and provides a supportive environment during their training. It's a superb place to learn how to fly - and to have fun in the process!
We offer individually tailored training to meet your own requirements, but these usually fall in to the following categories:
Trial flights - whether you are thinking of taking up gyro flying, are wondering what it is like to fly in one of these amazing machines, or are looking for an experience with a difference, the trial flight is the place to start. It's a proper flying lesson (and is part of the training curriculum) and is focussed on providing you with a flavour of what these fantastic aircraft are capable of and what you can look forward to if you decide to take a training course. You will be introduced to takeoffs, landings, slow and high speed flight, hovers, vertical descents turns and more. You will have the opportunity to take the controls and perform some simple manoeuvres under the guidance of your Instructor.
PPL(G) training - The UK Private Pilots Licence (Gyroplanes) - or PPL(G) - is a "Gold Standard" of achievement recognised throughout the world. The minimum training requirement is 40 hours of flying, which is undertaken as a mixture of dual (with your Instructor) and solo flying under supervision. You will learn how to handle the aircraft in the air, landings and takeoffs, safety and emergency procedures, navigation and airmanship. There is also a set of written exams to take, and these build on the practical experience you will have gained during your flying training.
Conversion from other licence types - If you already hold a CAA licence, say for fixed wing aircraft or helicopters, then the CAA allow credits towards your PPL(G) licence which reduce the amount of training required. We can build on your existing experience to help you become a safe, proficient and happy gyro pilot!
Type conversion training - If you already hold a PPL(G) but want to fly the MT-03 gyroplane, the CAA mandates "differences" training before you can fly a new type. As the first school in the UK to be equipped with the MT-03 we are uniquely positioned not only to teach you how to fly the aircraft, but also to pass on our knowledge of the practicalities of ownership and operation.
Advanced training - if you already hold a PPL(G) but want to brush up on your skills, we can offer personalised packages to help improve your flying and get more out of your aircraft. We can cover topics such as forced landings, hover taxying, navigation & cross-country flying (including using a GPS), strip flying, or just go over the basics to make sure that you haven't got rusty or picked up any bad habits.
You can find the full details of training requirements in the CAA's LASORS publication, which you can download here. It's a 1.8MB file so it's not recommended for those on a dial-up connection.
New for 2008 - we are now able to offer solo flying on school aircraft for Gyro Training students - please call or email for details of our solo flight scheme.